THE TRIUMPH OF TIME AND TRUTH
(composed 1757)
Music by Georg Friedrich Händel
An oratorio
Words by Thomas Morell
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Beauty (soprano)
Pleasure (tenor)
Deceit (soprano)
Time (basse)
Counsel (alto)
Chorus
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT ONE
1. Overture
2. Chorus
Time is supreme, Time is a mighty pow'r,
Whom wisest mortals will adore.
3. Recitative
Beauty
(looking in a mirror)
How happy could I linger here,
And stop old Time in his career!
4. Air
Beauty
Faithful mirror, fair-reflecting,
All my beauteous charms collecting,
Which, I fear, will soon decay.
Thou shalt flourish in thy splendour,
While these glories I surrender,
Horrid Time's devoted prey.
Faithful mirror. . . da capo
5. Recitative
Pleasure
Fear not! I, Pleasure, swear
That these charms you still shall wear,
Ever blooming, ever fair.
Beauty
Beauty, thy slave, this vow shall make,
Sweet Pleasure never to forsake;
And, if this vow I disregard,
In pain and anguish
Let me languish,
Tasting Folly's due reward.
6. Air
Pleasure
Pensive sorrow, deep-possessing,
Life despoils of every blessing,
Wrapt in shades of piercing woe.
Who indulges grief's sad passion,
Sore vexation,
Knows no joyful day below.
Pensive sorrow. . . da capo
7. Recitative
Deceit
Despise Old Time. If short his stay,
Let ev'ry joy
The heart employ,
And pleasure still improve the day.
8. Air and Chorus
Beauty and Chorus
Come, come, live with Pleasure,
Taste in youth life's only·joy!
Old age knows no leisure,
Cares its wintry thoughts emp]oy.
9. Recitative
Time
(to Beauty)
Turn, look on me! Behold old Time.
Counsel
And see Counsel, the son of Truth.
Time
Who soon will show
How frail a flower Beauty is.
Counsel
The blossom of a day, that springs and dies.
10. Air
Counsel
The beauty smiling,
All hearts beguiling,
Soon drooping, dying,
Returns no more.
The youth, now blooming,
And still presuming,
Few moments flying,
Shall charm no more.
The beauty. . . da capo
11. Recitative
Pleasure
Our diff'rent pow'rs we try, and see
Who now shall gain the victory,
Pleasure,
Beauty
Or Beauty,
Time
Time,
Counsel
Or Counsel.
12. Air
Beauty
Ever-flowing tides of pleasure
Shall transport me beyond measure
In this conflict with Old Time,
If he dares to despoil this choicest treasure.
Beauty, blooming in its prime.
Ever-flowing. . . da capo
13. Recitative
Time
The hand of Time pulls down
The great colossus of the sun,
The stone-built castle, cloud-capt tow'r,
And shall Beauty oppose my pow'r?
14. Air
Time
Loathsome urns, disclose your treasure,
Pride and Pleasure,
Unveil to me,
That I may see
If now any
Spark of beauty still remains.
No, all dark as night!
Only worms their prey enjoying,
Dust and ashes still destroying,
Which my greedy tooth disdains.
Loathsome urns. . . da capo
15. Chorus
Strengthen us, O Time, with all thy lore,
Teach us the ways of wisdom!
16. Recitative
Deceit
Too rigid the reproof you give,
Too deep the search of Truth.
Wise men will still in pleasure live,
And still enjoy,
Without annoy,
The proper fruits of youth.
17. Air
Deceit
Happy Beauty, who fortune now smiling,
Now with gay Pleasure and sport Time beguiling,
Still enjoys the sweets of April's life.
Come, indulge then no doubts to perplex you,
Nor permit any sorrow to vex you,
But live free from all care and all strife.
Happy Beauty. . . da capo
18. Air and Chorus
Deceit and Chorus
Happy, if still they reign in pleasure,
All the sweets of youth caressing;
Happy, if slighting Time's dull measure,
They enjoy the present blessing.
19. Recitative
Counsel
Youth is not rich in Time; it may be poor,
Nor can he call his own the passing hour.
Time
Hence, let thy thoughts on frailty range,
And know that every day
Some charm I make my lawful prey,
Though unperceiv'd the change.
Pleasure
He best, he only life employs,
Who will not think how fast it flies.
Counsel
Yet, ere it is too late, give ear,
And this instructive lesson hear.
20. Air and Chorus
Time and Chorus
Like the shadow, life ever is flying,
All unnotic'd, so swift the delusion.
Man heeds not Time, on hope still relying,
Soon the bell strikes, and all is confusion.
ACT TWO
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
21. Soli (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and Chorus
Pleasure submits to pain,
As day gives way to night,
And sorrow smiles again,
As Time sets all things right.
Thus are the seasons chang'd,
And all in turn appear,
In various order rang'd,
Throughout the whole revolving year.
Pleasure. . . da capo
22. Recitative
Pleasure
Here Pleasure keeps his splendid court,
Where all his devotees resort;
And, at his nod, advance
The costly feast, the carol, and the dance,
Minstrels and music, poetry and play,
The dance by night, and manly sports by day.
23. Symphony (flourish of horns)
24. Recitative
Beauty
Hark! What sounds are these I hear?
25. Chorus
Oh, how great the glory
That crowns the hunter's toil!
Like Theseus, fam'd in story,
He triumphs in the spoil.
26. Air
Pleasure
Dryads, Sylvans, with fair Flora,
Come, adorn this joyful place;
Come, fair Iris and Aurora,
This our festival to grace!
27. Solo (soprano) and Chorus
Lo! We all attend on Flora,
To adorn this joyful place.
Iris comes, with fair Aurora,
This your festival to grace.
28. Air
Deceit
No more complaining,
No more disdaining,
See Pleasure reigning
Without control.
Still more delighting,
Sweetly inviting,
New charms exciting
The raptur'd soul.
No more. . . da capo
29. Air
Deceit
Pleasure's gentle Zephyrs playing,
Bid thee sail, without delaying,
And the port of bliss obtain.
Let not doubtful fear confound thee,
Taste the joys that now surround thee,
Nor let Pleasure smile in vain.
Pleasure's gentle. . . da capo
30. Air
Beauty
Come, O Time, and thy broad wings displaying,
Might essaying,
Sweep away,
Without delay,
The joyous pleasures of this sweet abode.
Lo! He sleepeth, no more his strength prevailing,
No more his pow'r availing
To destroy life's sovereign good.
Come, O Time. . . da capo
31. Air
Counsel
Mortals think that Time is sleeping,
When so swiftly unseen he's sailing.
But he comes, with ruin sweeping,
In his triumph never failing.
Mortals think. . . da capo
32. Recitative
Time
(to Beauty)
You hop'd to call in vain, but see me here!
These lower regions are my proper sphere.
Would you then dread no more
My hated pow'r,
Prepare thee for a nobler flight,
Amidst the realms of light.
Time cannot climb the blissful sky,
Nor reach to immortality.
33. Air
Time
(to Beauty)
False destructive ways of Pleasure
Leave, and court a nobler treasure
In the starry realms above.
Here though Folly's sons defy me,
Yet in vain they seek to fly me,
While through all the world I rove.
False destructive. . . da capo
34. Recitative
Counsel
(to Beauty)
Too long deluded you have been
By Pleasure's false and flatt'ring scene.
Behold fair Truth, the heav'nly image see,
Not decked, but fairest in simplicity:
White robes of innocence she wears,
Her look, her thoughts, turn'd to her kindred spheres.
Time
Behold her faithful mirror too,
Presenting all things to your view
By just reflection, be they false or true.
35. Air
Pleasure
Lovely Beauty, close those eyes,
Charming Beauty, oh look not there!
In that view all pleasure dies,
In reflection is sure despair.
Lovely Beauty. . . da capo
36. Recitative
Deceit
Seek not to know what known will prove
Grief more severe than slighted love.
37. Air
Deceit
Melancholy
Is a folly,
Wave all sorrow
Until tomorrow,
Life consists in the present hour.
This dear treasure we adore
With grateful ardour, still employing,
Still enjoying,
The sweet moments in our pow'r.
Melancholy. . . da capo
38. Recitative
Time
What is the present hour? 'Tis born and gone!
Think on the years already flown,
Think you will see the bliss, but see in vain,
Think on convicted error's self-tormenting pain.
Beauty
No more! I know not where to turn,
My heart's too sad to laugh, too gay to mourn.
39. Air
Beauty
Fain would I, two hearts enjoying,
This in penitence employing,
Freely that resign to joy.
40. Recitative
Counsel
Vain the delights of age or youth,
Without the sanction and applause of Truth.
And as the soul more bright appears
Than the frail earthly form she wears,
So much true pleasures, from this glass,
All other sublunary joys surpass.
41. Air
Counsel
On the valleys, dark and cheerless,
From the mountain's summit, fearless,
Soon you'll with contempt look down;
And these darling pleasures slighting,
In sublimer views delighting,
Disbelieve that choice your own.
On the valleys. . . da capo
42. Recitative
Time
Not venial error this, but stubborn pride,
To leave a sure and friendly guide,
Who, seeing you bewilder'd stray,
Points out the short and easy way.
See, see the happy port before you lies,
And Time exhorts you to be wise.
Beauty
Darkly as through a cloud, I see
The immense treasures of futurity,
But present joys my heart so fill
That, though inclin'd, I cannot will
To leave this scene for immortality.
Counsel
Hear the call of Truth and Duty,
And to Folly bid adieu.
Ere to dust is chang'd thy beauty,
Change thy heart, and good pursue.
43. Chorus
Ere to dust is chang'd thy beauty,
Change thy heart, and good pursue.
ACT THREE
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
44. Symphony
45. Recitative
Deceit
(to Beauty)
Once more I thee address,
Regardful of thy happiness.
46. Air
Deceit
Charming Beauty, stop the starting tear from flowing
All adown the rosy cheek.
Pleasure still new charms bestowing,
Ever cheerful Pleasure seek.
Charming Beauty. . . da capo
47. Recitative
Beauty
Tempt me no more,
Your words give no relief;
I know no pleasure
But in virtuous grief.
48. Air
Deceit
Sharp thorns despising,
Cull fragrant roses!
Why seek you pleasures
Mix'd with alloy?
Old age surprising,
Soon the scene closes;
Life's only treasure's
Life to enjoy.
Sharp thorns. . . da capo
49. Recitative
Counsel
Regard her not. Unvalu'd here
Such tears may fall, but know each tear will prove
A precious pearl in Heav'n above.
Beauty
Soft and prevailing is thy voice. Alas,
Too long I've err'd! Put forth the heav'nly glass!
Counsel
Behold, it waits your view!
Beauty
Now, Pleasure, take my last adieu!
50. Air
Beauty
Pleasure!
My former ways resigning,
To Virtue's cause inclining,
Thee, Pleasure, now I leave,
Lest, when my strength shall fail me,
No sorrow can avail me,
Nor sickness comfort give.
Pleasure. . . da capo
51. Recitative
Beauty
Since the immortal mirror I possess,
Where Truth's reflected beauties glow,
Thee faithless form, deluding glass,
Thee to thy native earth I throw.
Pleasure
Ah, stay, forbear!
Counsel
(to Pleasure)
In vain you this prevention dare.
52. Air
Counsel
Thus to ground, thou false, delusive,
Flatt'ring mirror, thee I throw.
Thou who, with vain art abusive,
Didst exalt each charming feature,
Far beyond the pride of nature,
Feigning happiness below.
Thus to ground. . . da capo
53. Accompagnato
Beauty
O mighty Truth! Thy power I see,
All that was fair seems now deformity.
This day my pride shall from its height descend,
This day my reign of vanity shall end.
Adieu, vain world! In search of greater good,
I'll pass my days in sacred solitude;
'Tis fit the slave of vanity should dwell
In some sequester'd penitential cell.
54. Air
Time
From the heart that feels my warning,
Grateful are the tears that flow.
Pearly drops, the flow'rs adorning,
Grace not more the dewy morning,
Nor such blessings can bestow.
From the heart. . . da capo
55. Recitative
Beauty
Pleasure, too long associates we have been,
Now share conviction from Truth's faithful scene,
Or to thy native darkness fly.
Pleasure
As with Error I long have been dwelling,
I with Truth now can have no contentment.
56. Air
Pleasure
Like clouds, stormy winds then impelling,
Disdainful I fly with resentment.
Hark! The thunder round me rolls,
Truth's awful angry frowns I see;
Her arrows wound my trembling soul,
Nor is there any joy for me.
Ah no, Truth drives me to despair,
Open, ye rocks, and hide me there.
Like clouds. . . da capo
57. Recitative
Beauty
Farewell! — Now Truth, descending from the sky,
Clad in bright beams, its glorious light displays.
Oh, thither let me cast my longing eye,
And strive to merit her inspiring rays.
58. Air
Beauty
Guardian angels, oh, protect me,
And in Virtue's path direct me,
While resign'd to Heav'n above.
Let no more this world deceive me,
Nor let idle passions grieve me,
Strong in faith, in hope, in love.
Guardian angels. . . da capo
59. Chorus
Halleluja!
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
T h e E n d
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